The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Burma Army have been fighting in Northern Shan State since June.
TNLA troops
About 18 clashes have taken place between the TNLA troops and government troops, in the areas of Kutkai, Nangsang, and Kyaukme, according to the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta'ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) News and Information Department.
Colonel Tar Bone Kyaw the TNLA General Secretary, in an interview with IMNA, said: “Today [20 September] we have also clashed with government troops. I do not know yet whether men from our side have fallen. We cannot do anything because the government is increasing troop numbers. We are avoiding confrontation as much as we can, but in some places we cannot avoid it, so both sides confront each other and engage in fighting,”
He said that he had instructed his troops to avoid confrontations as much as they could in order to reduce the fighting.
On 20 September battalion 527 of TNLA brigade 2, along with troops from from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), fought with Burma Army soldiers from Division 77 in Kyaukme Township from 8am to 11am, resulting in the deaths of two Burma Army soldiers.
There was also fighting between TNLA and government troops on 19 September near Daban Village, in Manton Township and on 17 September in Moemake Township, both of which are areas in TNLA Brigade (3) territory.
There was also fighting between TNLA and government forces on 7,8,10 and 11 September. According to the PSLA/TNLA News and Information Department 12 Burma Army soldiers were killed during the fighting on 7 and 8 September.
According to Col. Tar Bone Kyaw the reason there is fighting in TNLA territory is because the Burma Army is deploying more troops, expanding its bases and launching more attacks in order to carry out what it refers to as "regional clearance."
It has been reported that the Myanmar Peace Centre (MPC) contacted the TNLA on 19 September to arrange for a meeting so that the TNLA can meet with the government to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement.
The government has already invited 15 ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), but it has refused to allow six other EAOs to sign the NCA. They are: the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Wa National Organisation/Army (WNO/A), the Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), and the Arakan National Council (ANC).
Reporter Aik Sai
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
